Most people know that the federal government has enacted laws intended to protect workers in the workplace. Each state has its system in place to compensate workers who are injured while on the job. If you are injured or become sick due to something from your workplace, it pays to know our rights.
Workplace Injuries
Accidents in the workplace affect thousands of Americans each year. Some cases cause severe damage and have lasting repercussions. These accidents can come from various scenarios, including exposure to heavy machinery, power tools, toxic or dangerous substances, cave-ins, and so on. Another danger is the exposure to these or other related issues over an extended period. Construction workers are some of the most at risk due to their high exposure rate to large machinery and power tools. Regardless of the field in which you work, an injury at work leaves you in a unique situation, you need to make money, but you can’t go back to work while recovering. To help combat this situation, Utah has a workers comp program.
Workers comp is designed to help you pay the medical expenses related to your accident and replace part of your wages. You have the right to claim these benefits regardless of who was at fault for the accident. The worker’s comp system is created to aid the injured worker to get the help they need without the cost of a drawn-out trial or legal process. The system’s potential problem lies in the fact that these payments are made by insurance companies that also need to make money. They make more money if they don’t have to pay claims, and the employer will keep their lower rate. For this reason, it is essential to hire a personal injury attorney to ensure that you aren’t denied the benefits you deserve.
Should I Seek Compensation
Usually, claiming workers comp means that you won’t be able to sue your employer for the injury. There are a few scenarios in which you can sue if you so desire. While most lawsuits take much longer to resolve than workers comp, they almost always result in more money to compensate you. You may be able to sue if your employer doesn’t have workers’ comp insurance. Another scenario could be if your employer takes some adverse action against you for claiming workers comp. Finally, you may be able to sue and get workers comp if there is more than one employer involved, like in the case at many construction companies between the contractors and subcontractors working together. Regardless of your situation, it is always in your best interest to refer to an experienced personal injury attorney to ensure you receive all the compensation you deserve.